Asia, Europe mobilize against spread of swine flu

Governments adopted measures last used during the SARS crisis of 2003.

April 27, 2009

By Jonathan AdamsCorrespondent

• A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Asian and European countries took steps to block the spread of swine flu Monday, as Mexico increased the number of suspected victims to 103 dead and 1,614 total cases.

Cases have also been confirmed in the Spain, Canada, and the US, with suspected cases in at least five other countries.

Governments across Asia dusted off measures last adopted during the SARS crisis of 2003, which remains fresh in peoples' memories here. The new crisis is also an echo of the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has killed hundreds, mostly in southeast Asia.

In addition, the Philippines temporarily banned pork from the US and Mexico. Russia, China, and Thailand also banned pork imports from Mexico and parts of the US, though a World Health Organization (WHO) official said "there was no evidence to link exposure to pork with infection," the BBC reports.WHO officials will meet in Geneva tomorrow to decide whether to raise the pandemic threat level, the BBC said. The UK said it has "stepped up" surveillance to guard against the disease.

Thomas Tsang, controller for territory's Center for Health Protection, said the government and universities aim to develop a quick test for the new flu strain in a week or two that will return results in four to six hours, compared to existing tests that can take two or three days.

Japan said it would fast-track efforts to find a vaccine, while one company pulled back the families of staff based in Mexico, travel agencies scrapped package tours and drug stores reported a brisk trade in face masks.

"There is no need to panic over the outbreak at the moment. The present situation is like a tropical storm emerging on the other side of the Pacific which poses no immediate threat to people here," Health Minister Yeh Chin-chuan said, according to the report.

"A nasty chill will run through the market with swine flu as people think back to the SARS virus," said Justin Urquhart Stewart, investment director at Seven Investment Management.

"The threat of the pandemic will add further weakness to global trade – we saw with SARS tangible percentage points knocked off the index and that was in a buoyant time. Put that in a weaker time and it is likely to be more unpleasant."